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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:05:53 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:10:33 GMT -5
Wonder Woman
Issue #13: "The Kronus Tablet, Part 1"
Written by Sam Harrison
Cover by Roy Flinchum
Edited by David Charlton One year ago Diana of Themyscira was Wonder Woman. She was defeated in single combat by another Amazon, Zenobia, who had been blessed by Ares, and was forced into exile in Man's World. Zenobia however took the mantle and used it to enforce her own sense of justice, a rather more brutal one than the people were used to from Wonder Woman.
Diana was then framed for stealing an ancient alternate version of her Wonder Woman armour and sought by the DEO and Zenobia. Everything came to a head outside Steve Trevor's hotel room when Zenobia and Diana fought once more for the mantle of Wonder Woman with the DEO on the sidelines. Diana gravely wounded Zenobia, and the goddess Athena, the patron of Wonder Woman, appeared to her and told her that she had always been Wonder Woman and that the position was appointed by her and not something that could be fought for and won. She then gave Wonder Woman a mission: to retrieve the Kronus Tablet. But now that Diana is Wonder Woman again, what will become of Diana Prince? |
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:11:14 GMT -5
The woman with the black lipstick was still on the run. She'd been running for almost eight hours now, and the demons were still as relentless as ever. She had at least, for the moment, evaded them well enough that she had a few minutes to relax. She slumped against a wall in the alley, in between two dumpsters, and pulled off her backpack. She took an energy bar from it and stuffed it greedily into her mouth, she was glad now that she carried the emergency rations with her most of the time. She'd never moan about the extra weight and space again.
She pulled out the object that was giving her so much grief, the tablet she'd stolen from Themyscira House. She turned it over and ran her fingers over the engraved letters; she hadn't really looked at it since she'd stolen it, as she'd not had the time. As she looked at it, she felt like the words were taking her over, even though she didn't understand them. The Greek letters flashed in front of her eyes for a brief second, then all she could think of was four numbers.
“1-9-4-1”
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:11:52 GMT -5
Diana and Steve sat in her Gateway City apartment, Diana had tidied it since the DEO had searched it and they now sat opposite each other at the small table in her living room.
“So,” Steve said, breaking the silence, “What are you going to do now? Go back to Themyscira?”
Diana sat forward and looked at the tea she had poured herself, “No. I'm not ready to go back there just yet. The past year in Man's World has taught me quite a few things, I have been thinking about staying for a little while longer.”
“As Diana Prince?” Steve asked.
Diana looked up, “Enough people have seen me in the new armour to be able to identify me. This could pose a problem.”
“I don't know if I like the idea of Wonder Woman in a mask,” Steve said thoughtfully, “it just feels wrong to me.”
“I don't like it either. A mask lessens the trust people have in you,” she replied, pausing to take a sip of her tea, “and after a year with Zenobia as Wonder Woman, I need all the trust I can get right now.”
Steve nodded his agreement. Diana stood up and walked to the window to look out.
“I will think about this,” Diana said with a note of preoccupation in her voice, “maybe I'll have to disguise Diana Prince and not Wonder Woman. That could work.”
Steve turned his chair to face her, “Speaking of, you're going to need a new job.”
“I guess I am.” Diana replied, “I could always go back to the diner. But the manager there is a pig, and said I could never have my job back if I left.”
“I have an idea,” Steve said with a mischievous smile on his face, “I'll make a few calls and get back to you.”
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:12:22 GMT -5
Wonder Woman flew between the rooftops, going slowly enough to take in the mood of Gateway City. It was a lovely day and Apollo's sun shone down on the people below. She was still a little distracted; she had so many things on her mind. Her past as Diana of Themyscira, her future as Wonder Woman and her confusion over who she should be in the present.
She had decided to carry on being Diana Prince, she needed to live as a mortal to fully understand mortals. But in order to live as Diana Prince she must get a job, she needed a visible means of support like Clark. Unfortunately she didn't have the resources Bruce had, so he could fully dedicate himself to his war on crime in Gotham. She would have to be Diana Prince and Wonder Woman, neither of them could be a disguise.
She heard them as they passed under her, the police cars.
“Back to work.” She said to herself, banking in the air and following the chain of emergency vehicles to their destination.
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:13:38 GMT -5
The thing that used to be Barbara Minerva ripped the flesh of the museum guard, her claws scarred his stomach and he showered her with arterial blood. Her lithe feline form kept moving and flitted between the other guards, instinctively avoiding the most likely angles of gunfire and attacking her opposition. Her brilliant scientific mind was completely at the mercy of her animal instincts, the good doctor forced herself to stay on the task at hand and not spend the remaining time until the police arrived eating her way through the guards she had mauled to get what she wanted. What she needed.
She was looking for an ancient Chinese artefact, the Gem of the Sho-ren, and unluckily for her, it happened to be in Gateway City's museum. Gateway City was the current home base of the woman who had thwarted her last time, Wonder Woman.
Even more unlucky for Minerva was that Wonder Woman stood square between her and the gem.
“End of the line.” Diana said forcefully.
She knew Minerva would attack, that she couldn't do anything else, so she made her pre-emptive strike and flung her tiara straight at the Cheetah's face.
Though startled by the blow she shook it off. Cheetah dived at Wonder Woman, slashing with her claws. Wonder Woman whipped her across the back of the neck with her elbow, the force of the attack drew them both to the ground. Cheetah was on top of Wonder Woman, they wrestled for control for a few seconds before the beast decided to try a different tactic and butted Diana as hard as she could. Leaping back and whipping her inhumanly strong leg around in a roundhouse kick in the same spot.
Diana's vision failed her and she saw only black. She couldn't have been out for more than thirty seconds but when she awoke the Cheetah was gone, and so was the museum exhibit that had obviously been her target. Diana pounded her right fist into the floor, cracking the marble further.
Out in the hallway boot-steps clacked on the marble and gun-belts squeaked. As the police rounded the corner they spotted some blood and the cracked marble, but Diana was nowhere to be seen.
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:15:55 GMT -5
Diana touched down in her apartment and slipped on her civilian clothes, a simple white skirt suit. She stepped over to her kitchenette and flipped on her kettle. As the water inside began to bubble her phone rang.
“Diana?” Steve's voice said from the other end of the phone.
“Yes, Steve, it's me,” she said with a quiet smile.
“How quickly can you be in Washington?”
“A few minutes, why?” Diana replied.
Steve's voice had the same mischievous tone from earlier that day, “Pack your bags. I found you a job.”
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:16:10 GMT -5
Diana landed in an alley; she'd flown wearing her skirt suit over her costume. She'd decided that it was acceptable work clothes as well as a good disguise.
“But maybe still not enough...” She muttered to herself upon seeing her reflection in a puddle, the suit hid her build a little but her Amazonian heritage shone through. She stepped out of the alley and out into the fresh December air, walking along the street towards Steve's house. Everyone was looking at her. It wasn't working. She stuck out like a sore thumb, her height and stature and her features. She needed to dull everything down, to be so dull that people would see the similarities and still dismiss their suspicions.
Something caught her eye in a shop window, and she smiled.
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:16:50 GMT -5
Diana Prince stepped out of the opticians, her hair snapped back in an austere bun and a thick-rimmed pair of glasses on her nose. Nobody was looking at her. It had worked. She smiled, then checked herself and pushed the glasses back up her nose with her index finger before starting off again towards Steve's house.
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:17:52 GMT -5
Somewhere Else...
Wonder Woman crashed down, bleeding. She'd been on the run for months now, ever since the occupation. On her back was a US Military standard issue green duffel bag, which contained the last remaining personal items she allowed herself to carry from the ruins of Themyscira. She was running straight toward her enemy and using the small round shield she wore on her left arm to protect herself from the hail of bullets now pouring out at her. She bashed right into the soldiers with her shield as hard as she could, they were left insensible and bleeding on the floor. She was weak, tired. She'd almost died a few minutes ago, and a few minutes before that, and every few minutes since the war had begun.
She collapsed to a sitting position near the unconscious soldiers and pulled her bag around in front of her. She had some rations in her bag and she took a few seconds to eat. The dried fruits were old and tasted bad; she thought back to the feasting on Themyscira and how much food had been wasted. She longed for those happier times, the innocent times before the war.
Wonder Woman looked down at her unsuccessful assailants, then to their arms. The black swastika emblem on the blood red flag disgusted her to even look at it. She spat on it, before being startled by the crackling of her radio. The one she kept to keep in touch with her friends.
“Wonder Woman?” a familiar voice said. It was Green Lantern. “Hippolyta?”
Wonder Woman looked around her for a few seconds at the battlefield of No Man's Land, “It was a nice world while it lasted. Who would think the world would end in 1941.”
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:20:59 GMT -5
“That was quick,” Steve said as he opened the door, “I like your mask.”
Diana nodded and smiled, “Thanks. May I?”
“Come on in,” he said, “After all, it's your home. If you want, that is.”
Diana stepped over the threshold and looked around Steve's reception room, the house wasn't huge but it was a decent size. At least five or six bedroom, “You're serious? You want me to live here?”
Steve followed in the chair, gesturing to the house, “That neighbourhood in Gateway you live in is a hole. And the DEO and FBI trampled all over your place, it's a mess. You can stay here until you get yourself on your feet.”
“Steve, I can't...” She replied.
“You remember that job I told you about, it's here in Washington,” Steve said, wheeling himself into the lounge, “With the DEO. You'll be working as one of their field agents.”
“DEO?” Diana asked.
“Yes, the Department of Extra-normal Affairs,” Steve replied, “Their head office is in Washington, you'll be one of their field agents. I thought it would suit you perfectly. No real schedule to keep and plenty of options to do some super-heroing.”
Diana was quiet for a few moments, lost in thought. She turned to face Steve and took off her glasses, “I can't thank you enough, Steve. Everything you've done for me, I could never repay you...”
“Don't even think about it,” Steve said looking up at her and smiling, “you've saved my life so many times, this is the least I can do.”
The corners of Diana's mouth crept up a little and she put her glasses back on.
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:21:32 GMT -5
Somewhere else...
He had grown fond of time. The abstract concept of time intrigued him, the antique twentieth century pocket watch he wore was his possibly the most important thing he possessed. That, and the notebook. He opened the book and the watch at the same time, reading from the book.
“Twenty-forty-one...” he muttered under his breath, “at exactly 7 PM, at these coordinates.”
He smiled and returned the pocket watch to his coat pocket. He looked up, replacing the notebook and looking up to see the flash he'd expected.
“Right on time.” he said, smiling to himself.
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:23:06 GMT -5
Diana had been taken on a tour of her new workplace that morning, and now she sat at her desk, in her office. She'd never had a desk before, let alone an office. Her assistant stood in the doorway expectantly.
“Uh,” Diana said looking up, “Am I your boss?”
“Yes ma'am.” Her assistant replied.
“You can call me Diana. What is your name?” Diana asked politely.
“My name's Etta Candy,” she replied, “You're new to this sort of thing aren't you?”
“Is it that obvious?” Diana asked, “What do I do?”
Etta came in and shut the door, “Truthfully,” she looked around as if she were sharing a very important secret, “Nothing. You just sit here and wait for a call, when you get a call you answer it and go where your boss tells you and solve whatever meta-human mystery you find there.”
“Sounds simple,” Diana said with a smile, “And what do you do?”
“Take calls, make coffee, file.”
“Change that coffee to tea and I think we'll get on just fine,” Diana replied. Etta nodded and left. A few minutes later she returned with a cup of tea.
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:24:41 GMT -5
“Diana,” Etta poked her head around the door an hour later, “Your first assignment is coming in.”
“Prince?” The voice on the other end asked.
Diana replied in the affirmative and the stern voice carried on.
“This is King Faraday, director of the DEO. I'd like to welcome you to our little band of idiots, and to hand you your first mission.”
Diana grinned to herself as she spoke with Faraday, he sounded like a good man, “Thank you sir. I'm ready.”
“Nobody's ever ready,” Faraday said jokingly, “But here you go anyway. Our computer guys are saying there's a major temporal disturbance down town, and we want one of our people at hand to make sure nothing extra-normal occurs.”
“Done and done sir.” Diana replied as the phone went dead and she replaced the receiver. She picked up her jacket and left her office, “Etta,” she said as she passed her, “If anyone calls tell them I'm out in a meeting. Any personal callers will know how to reach me.”
“Diana!” Etta called after her, “Good luck!”
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:26:11 GMT -5
Diana left her office and headed out and into the corridor. When she was satisfied nobody was watching she crept into the stationary cupboard to change.
She flew out of the window and across town, as she came to where she was supposed to be she felt a sense of foreshadowing. Suddenly her vision went white as there was a white hot flash that obscured the world for a moment. Diana instinctively flew toward the center of the flash and in the middle of it was a big orange globe with three very short legs.
She landed next to the sphere and looked at it intently. A side panel hissed and opened, and a brown, pinstriped suit leg stepped out. The leg was followed by a similarly garbed body that led up to a grey-haired and bearded face. He looked Diana up and down for a second, as if he was a friend who hadn't seen her in a very long time. The smile on his face was like the Cheshire Cat's.
“Wonder Woman, my name is Rip Hunter and I am searching for the Kronus Tablet.” he said, offering his aged hand, “I need your help to fix the time-line. Because otherwise everything you know and love will cease to exist.”
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:26:52 GMT -5
Somewhere Else...
“Polly!” Alan Scott's voice crackled through the radio.
She picked up the receiver, “I'm here Alan. What is it?”
“We've lost New York. Hourman's gone.” He said, his voice more sombre than she had ever heard, “I don't know the situation with Wildcat. Nobody's heard from him.”
Hippolyta put her fingers to her forehead and knit her brow in frustration, “I'm going to head to Washington. I'm one of the strongest of us and we both know that if your capital falls, this war is lost. I will not let Poison win. She took my home and half of my team when she fired her missile on Themyscira. I cannot allow her to win this war and rule this planet.”
Wonder Woman stood up to her full height and shouldered her duffel bag. She said a short prayer to Athena and then attempted to take off into flight. Nothing was happening; she was so worn out she simply could not fly.
“Looks like a long walk to Washington...” She said to herself as she turned away from the Chicago No Man's Land and began to walk.
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2006 21:28:03 GMT -5
To be continued!
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Post by mockingbird on Aug 3, 2011 15:32:00 GMT -5
To let us know what you think of this issue, please visit the letters page here!
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